Tomas Machů

July 2025 – There is a certain archetype of player that can never be counted out for an NHL future: big, physical, right-handed defensemen. Tomas Machu fits that description perfectly. After spending three years in the USHL, Machu made the jump to NCAA hockey, where he was a defensive stalwart on the Providence Friars’ blueline. While his offensive numbers may not have popped off the page, Machu was able to keep the puck away from his net by playing a hard-nosed game and gaining positioning versus other talents. Machu could use another year or two in the NCAA, but then jump to professional hockey, and if he can prove himself at the higher levels, he could make a career out of his skills. James Connelly

July 2021 – The New York Islanders drafted Machů in the seventh round (221st overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Mark Henry